The traditional North-East monsoon country falls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

HUGE DEFICITS

Among those which posted huge rain deficits until December 21, 2012, are Lakshadweep (-50 per cent); Kerala (-35 per cent); and South Interior Karnataka (-23 per cent).

Andhra Pradesh was the surprise gainer with excess rain in Telangana (+22 per cent) and coastal Andhra Pradesh (+33 per cent) while Rayalaseema fell under the normal category (-2 per cent). North interior Karnataka, normally prone to drought conditions, managed to fare much better by slotting itself into normal category (-4 per cent).

MIXED RESULTS

Coastal Karnataka, which is a logistical extension of the meteorological division of Kerala, too has had a poor monsoon (-16 per cent) until December-end. Thus, year 2012 season ended up with mixed results after the South-West monsoon too had ended in a deficit.

Meanwhile on Friday, a helpful trough of low of lower pressure persisted over Southwest Bay of Bengal topped up with cyclonic circulation.

The systems have combined only to drive up humidity levels over peninsula adding to the intensity of the heat.

Convective (rain-driving) clouds hung over parts of Southwest Bay of Bengal only. Less productive low to medium clouds were seen over Kerala and Tamil Nadu.